Hanson designed 16 of the 32 sites for the Channel 16 project — implemented by Motorola — for DoITT’s critical radio communications for emergency services and first responders. The Citywide Radio Network (CRN) supports mission critical and interoperable land-mobile radio communications throughout the five boroughs. More than 25,000 radios serving 40 agencies are already carried by the network.

Land Mobile Radio is more ruggedized than cellular radio. It uses 150Mhz, 450 MHz, 700 and 800 MHz bands, among other frequencies, outputs more power and travels further (with fewer towers). Radio sites have backup generators that can run several days without power, while cellular networks, if they have backup generators at all, rarely go for more than 8 hours before they need to be resupplied with fuel.

Handheld devices are available for first responders that use both the 700 and 800 MHz public service network as well as cellular service. But they are expensive. Motorola sells an interoperable LTE radios for public service users. They can use the broadband “D” block, and also utilize cellular bands. The Harris InTouch RPC-200 is another ruggedized LTE smartphone that will be able to operate on both commercial carrier networks as well as Band 14 public-safety LTE systems.

First responders and neighborhoods might have another option in the next few years — unlicensed White spaces. They can create a neighborhood network with a range of 3-5 miles.

Unlicensed White Space transmitters could be used anywhere. They check the band for interfering television stations before they transmit. White spaces use about the same power as a WiFi hotspot – but travel several miles.

Powered with solar panels and a car battery, a White Space nodes might supply direct communications to neighborhoods – and first responders – that have no other option.

Celly is a new startup that provides a private and secure way to do mobile social networking and texting. Family, friends, neighbors, classmates, coworkers, and teammates can use social building blocks called “cells” for everyday collaboration, knowledge sharing, and group communication on any device.

It Features:

join by text in seconds

unlimited members

group messaging with moderation

multiple-choice polling

scheduled reminders

track feeds automatically

link networks together

phone numbers are kept private

works on any phone with text messaging (SMS), Android app, web and email

The Android App is free. You can invite members with facebook, text message, QR code or by sharing a link. Other members don’t need the app, they can participate in cells with regular text messages, email, or on the web.

A text-based chat network might be a good match for white space networks using one 6 MHz TV channel to cover an entire community. Text uses very little overhead. Whitespace networks might enable direct connection between people, even when police radios or cellular networks are down.

Large cellular networks and first responder radio networks can get blown down in a storm. It’s a fact.

Whitespace networks can enable neighborhoods to respond and communicate immediately. Saving lives and connecting people should be a top priority of the FCC. Unlicensed white space radios might come in handy for natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy that can kill both cellular and police radios.

The Potamac Institute is generally skeptical (pdf) that the nationwide public safety broadband network will be cost/effective or nationwide. The FCC promoted “dual use” of the D-Block for commercial cellular providers. Their studies found it would deliver more service to more users at less cost.

FirstNet, the parallel LTE network dedicated only to first responders, would be paid for by auctioning off the TV frequencies. But FirstNet will likely be too expensive for rural areas and most of the communities along the West Coast where the next “big one” will strike.

FirstNet service would require thousands of new towers in low volume rural areas. Dual-band (Public safety/cellular) radios will also be more expensive. Rural users will likely opt-out, since it will be too expensive. Instead, they’ll use commercial cellular data when they need broadband. Or go without.

Unlicensed White Spaces could allow first responders (and communities) to provide inexpensive, ad-hock networks as needed. By contrast, licensed white space networks will likely be under the control of telecom monopolies, primarily driven by profit margins.